Selecting register



July 12, 1932- c. L. JOHNSTON' 1 1,867,544

SELEGT'ING REGISTER Filed Feb. 2, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYS July 12, 1932. c. L.. JOHNSTON sELEcTING REGSTER Filed Feb. 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Juli 1 2, 1932 UNITED STATES GLARENCE L. JOHNSTON, .0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN SALES Boon COMPANY, LIMITED, or TORONTO ONTARIO, CANADA OIT'JARIO, CANADA, A .CORPORATION OF snnncrrne nnersrna 'Application med February This invention relates to vauto'graphic registers and with regard to its more specie features to devices intended to make a plurality of copies of a. record and to retaln 5 one or more of said record copies within a locked compartment in the `form of a continuous zigzag pad.

An object of: this invention is to provide a device of the character described which will insure the proper foldingof the record pad and the proper coordination between the folding and the feeding mechanism relative to the locked compartment.` j

A further object' is to provide a device of the character described which will be simple of construction and more efficient in operation` Other objects ofthe invention will in part be obvious and will in part'appear hereinafter. y y 4 It has heretofore been vproposed to provide autographic registers with a compartment for the reception of a supply pad comprising a plurality of strips interfolded zigzag into a,

fiat package and to feed these strips over a tablet and tollivert one or more of them into a record compartment where it is intended that they should be refolded to assume the original fiat form. Difficulty has been experienced however, due to the tendency of the vstrips to continue to feed-forward from the feeding mechanism and to accumulate inthe locked compartment in a confused or unfolded mass which may become of suficient bulk to interfere with the feeding mechanism and in any event interfere with the usefulness and accessibility of,V the permanent` record.

It has also heretofore been proposed positively to grip certaink of the sheets to bring them into their folded position by engaging e specially prepared apertures in the sheets..

In accordance with the means are provided for positively directing the sheets to their position.A

The invention features ofconstructiomcombinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the vscope of the applica-A drawings, in which the present invention,

accordingly comprises theV a, 1925. serialgNo. 6,174.

and Objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description` taken in connection with the accompanying Figure l is a longitudinal' section of the machine, the strip being illustrated in dotted lines and part of the mechanism being broken away: I I

Fig. 2 is a detail of the folding mechanism showing the relation of the strip to the folding finger at the moment the cam for operating the folding arm ,comes into engagement,

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the relation of the foldin arm to the strip when the arm is'in depressed condition, v

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the relation ofthe folding arm tothe strip when the strip is released to permit the continued feeding of the next form,

Fi'g. 5 is a cross-section-througn chine on the line5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. y6 is a fragmental view showing the relation of the arm, operating cam and finger.

The numeral 1` indicates a casing divided the maby partitions 2 into 'a' supply compartment*- A and areco'rd compartment B. The supply compartment A preferably has a pivoted end wall 3 to-facilitate insertion ofa zigzag flat1 pad 4 composed of a plurality of strips of record leaves interfolded zigzag to form su# perposed sets of superposed record leaves, and

these record leaves may be provided with control apertures bearing definite relation to the forms thereon. Arranged above the compartment is a' tablet 5 and the strips from pad 4 are carried over separators 6, 7 and 7 into superposed relation onA the tablet 5. The separators 7 may bev hollow-cylinders adaptedto receive rolls of manifolding paper vand they may be providedwith slots' 8 to permit the manifolding paper to be carried out and interleaved between the strips. 1

Feeding means are provided which in th broad aspect of theinvention may be of any it 'comprises disks 9 mounted onashaft 10 journaled in the casing, thevdisk being of Yai suitable character. In the form illustrated, e'

vgripped between the disks 9 and the roll. It

will be understood that these disks will be in line with the control apertures in the record sheets. The shaft 10 is rotated by a handle 14 and a depressible stop 15 is arranged to limit the feed at the conclusion of the feeding of the form. Simple auxiliary starting means to engage the webs at the sides of the control apertures may be arranged to start the feeding of the webs as soon as the handle 14 passes the stop 15.

The record compartment B is arranged relative to the feeding mechanism so that as a strip is fed into it from the feeding means, the normal stiffness of the paper tends to carry Athe strip towardl the far end of the compartment. Since however it is desired to fold the strip zigzag, a-fold arm 16 is mounted upon the shaft 17 j ournaled in the sides of the casing adjacent to the path of the strip. This folding arm is arranged alternately to direct the strip toward the far end and toward the near .end of the record compartment andis sotimed relative to the feeding means that alternate fold lines are directed to opposite ends. A

cam 18 mounted on a stub shaft 19 attached to one wall ofthe casing is operated from the shaft 10 by gears 20 and 21.` The gear 20 is of twice the size of the gear 21 so that`the cam 18 is rotated once for every two revolutions of the shaft 10. A lug 22 on the cam 18 is arranged in the pathway of a finger 23 upon the shaft 17 and these parts are so proportioned that as the cam rotates to bring theI lug into engagement with the finger, the arm 16 is depressed downwardly toA an extent sufcient to engage the paper and definitely fold it toward the near end of the compartment. A spring 24 attached to the casing at one end retains the arm 16 normally raised unless depressed by the cam 22.

The cam 22 is so timed relative to the feeding mechanism as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3'and 4, that the fold line between two adj acent sheets is substantially opposite the tip of the folding arm as the latter is operated so that the folding of the paper is definitely effected at the fold line.

- The folding arm has a generally curved form so that when in its depressed position as illustrated in Fig. 3, it serves as a deilector or guide to deflect the strip toward the near end of the record compartment, whereas when the arm is in its raised position, -it

serves tol bear upon the upper side of theV strip if the latter should rise too high and direct it toward the far end of the compartment. The lug 22 is of such shape .as to hold zigzag folded the arm depressed until the fold line has substantially reached its position, allowance being made for the thickness of the full pad. Thereupon it is immediately released.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Therecord pad having been inserted in the compartment A and fed through the machine in the usual manner1 one ofthe strips is carried downwardly beneath the arm 16 and the others carried out of the machine. Assuming the machine to be in the position shown in Figure 1 at this moment, and a record having beenmade upon the sheets superposed upon the tablet 5, the stop 15 is depressed and the handle -14 turned one revolution.

-At the commencement of this feeding movement, when the strip has been fed about one-fourth yof its length, the lg 22 comes into engagement with the finger 23 to depress the arm 16. This-depression however,

requires an appreciable length of time during which a further feeding of the strip takes place until the position shown in Fig. 3 is reached. After this, because of the circumferential length of the lug 22, the arm is maintained depressed for a short time. While the strip is further fed and guided into position by the arm, the adjacent fold of the strip is close to its final position, whereupon, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the arm snaps back. The lug 22 is arranged to release the arm at this time because the continued feeding of the strip causes it to bow outwardly and the presence of the depressed arm at that time would interfere with this operation and cause the buckling of the sheet. Because of the circumferential length of lthe lug 22 and of the cam 18, it will be observed that the strip directing andfolding member or aim 16 is caused to dwell for a period in each of its alternate positions in which it is shown respectively in Figs. 3 and 4. In the lower of these positions as shown in Fig.

f 3, the strip is fed by the feeding mechanism against the Ifolding member or arm 16 Vwhich thus acts as a guide to direct the feeding strip into folded position at the near end of the pad. Also, when the arm 16 is in the act o moving downwardly, it will engage the adjacent face of the record strip and positively move the latter toward folded position. I

' The bowing referred to continues during the completion of the feeding of this sheet f and during the feeding of the next record sheet. During this portion of the feed, the sheet may tend to curve upwardly due to its own stiffness and if this curvngoccurs, the arm 16 will guide it downwardly toward its position. As sohn, however, as the next weakened line reaches the outer edge of the bow, the strip tends to fold sharply and drop into its proper place upon the paper pad due to 'the feeding impulse, to the weight of the paper and the weakness of the strip at the fold. It is substantially at this time that the folding arm is in position again to be moved down into engagement with the other record sheet.

- the strig As stated above, the feed mechanism is adapted to grip the strips and to feed them forwardly, the feed disks 9 being aligned with feed control apertures in the strips positioned in definite relation with reference to the blank forms and necessarily also with reference to the folds of the strips. When these feed control apertures come into alignment with the feed grip, the strip feed will be checked even though the feed disks continue to advance. This action adjusts the relative position of the strips with reference to the strip positioning guide or arm 16 which is also controlled and operated by the feeding mechanism. By virtue of this action, the transverse fold lines of the lower or storage record strip are longitudinally adjusted or timed with reference to the actuation or positioning of the strip guide 16. Thus, certain definite portions along the length of the record strip in the vicinity of the transverse fold lines arev projected by actuation of the feeding mechanism against the strip guide and folding member 16, thereby guiding the strip into folded condition when the guide 16 is in theposition shown in Fig. 3. Similar actuation may also occur when the fold member 16 occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, the strip is adjusted longitudinally with reference to the folding positions of the member 16 even though there may be slippage or other inaccuracies of the feeding mechanism in feeding the strips. This feature of the improved mechanism maintains the correct relative positioning of the strip and folding member 16 for the most satisfactory accomplishment of the folding function. Any tendency to failure in the folding function is thus greatly diminished over preexisting devices for similar purposes.

It will be understood that the record strip .or strips will be started after each aligning operation brought about by engagement of apertures in the grip of the feed disks. uch starting may be accomplished by hand, if desired, by pulling upon the forward ends of the strips or otherwise, but preferably some preferred mechanism will be employed such as an auxiliary starter as above referred to, a form of which is disclosed in the Johnston patent for autographic lregister #1,658,127, issued February 7 1928.

v.It will be seen that every alternate fold Y line will be automatlcally deflected to the near end of the record compartment by the deiecting arm 16; whereas each other fold line will be carried to its place at the far end of the compartment by the bowing action referred to.

If there is a decided bias on the part of `above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a device of the character described,

in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription-receiving position, a record strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide positioned adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage'compartment, and a mount mounting said strip guide so that it may be shifted into alternate strip-guiding positions, in one of which the strip may be fed thereagainst by the feeding means thereby to guide and deflect the strip into folded condition at one end of the folded pad in said compartment and in the other of the alternate positions, said strip may be fed by the feeding means against said strip guide, thereby to guide and deect the strip into folded condition at the other end of said pad, and positively operated mechanism to move said strip guide in definite predetermined cycles toward and away from its alternate strip guiding positions. 4

In a device of the character described, in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription-receiving position, a record strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide positioned adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment, and a mount mounting said strip guide for shifting into alternate strip-guiding positions, in one of which the strip may be fed thereagainst by the feeding means thereby to guide and deflect the strip into folded condition at one end of the folded pad in said compartment and in the other of the alternate positions, said strip may be fed by the feeding means against said strip guide, thereby to guide and deflect the strip into folded condition at the other end of said pad, and means connected for operation by said feed ing means to shift said strip guide into point of said folding finger being positioned adjacent to and above the path of movement of said feeding strip as it emerges from said feeding means so as to swing downwardly toward the feeding means into strip cooperative position thereby to guide and defl-ect the feeding strip into folded condition. in said compartment, means for moving said folding finger downwardly on its pivotal mounting into strip cooperative folding position, means to cause said finger to dwell for a period whereat the strip may be fed thereagainst by the feeding means, and means for swinging said finger upwardly away from the feeding means.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, means t-o feed a record strip into inscription-receiving position, a record strip storage compartment adjacent -said feeding means, a st-rip-guiding and folding finger pivotally mounted adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment and adapted to swing downwardly toward the feeding means into strip cooperative position so that the strip may be fed thereagainst by the feeding means, thereby to guide and deflect the st-rip into folded condition in said compartment, said supporting linger' being swingable upwardly away from the feeding means, an operating lug operatively connected to said finger, a cam cooperating with said lug to move said finger into strip-guiding position and to hold it there during strip feeding action of the said feeding means and driving connect-ions between said feeding means and said cam to shift said fing-er into strip-coopffzraing positionin timed sequence with strip In a device of the character described, in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription receiving position, a record strip storage compartlnent adjacent said feed'ng means, a shiftable strip guide mounted adjacent. the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment, means for shifting said strip guide out of the path of normal strip feed whereby the strip may then be projected by the feeding means to one end of a folded pad, and means for shifting said strip guide downwardly into the path of strip feed wherein the strip is fed thereagainst by said feeding means thus to guide and deflect the strip to the other end of said pad.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription receiving position, a record strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide mounted adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment, means to shift said strip guide to position it and to cause it to dwell for a period at one side of the path of normal strip feed out of normal contact with the strip while the latter is being fed to one part of a folded pad, and means to shift said stri guide to position it and to cause it to dweil for a period adjacent the path of normal strip feed in position to contact vwith the strip and to guide and position it While being fed to another part of thefolded pad.

7 In a device of the-character described, in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription receiving position, a record strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide mounted adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment, means to shift said strip guide to cause it to engage with and deflect the 4strip toward folded position, and means tocause said strip guide to dwell for a period adjacent the path of normal strip feed in position to contact with the feeding strip and to guide and postion it into folded position during said dwell.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription receiving position, a record 4strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide mounted adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment, and means for shifting said strip guide into each of a plurality of positions relative to the path of strip feed and causing it to dwell there for a period during strip feed in each of said positions.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription receiving position, a record strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide mounted adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment, and means for shifting said strip guide relative to the path of strip feed and causing it to dwell for a period adjacent said path in position to guide the strip into folded position during strip feed. l

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription receiving position, a record strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftablc strip guide mounted adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment, means controlled by said feeding -recae-i4 means for shifting said strip guide relativethus to adjust the operating position of the ly to the path of strip feed at predetermined' intervals into position wherein the strip may be fed thereagainst by said feeding means thus to guide and deflect the strip into folded condition, and means embodied in said feed means to adjust the relative strip advancement with reference to the operative folding position of said shiftable strip guide thus to cause predetermined parts of the stripl to be fed bythe feed means against said strip guide thus to facilitate the folding operation.

ll. In a` device of the character described, in combination, means to feed a record strip into inscription receiving position, a record strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide mounted adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent said storage compartment, means controlled by said feeding means for shifting said strip guide relatively to the path of strip feed at predetermined intervals into position wherein the strip may be fed thereagainst by said feeding means thus to guide and deflect the strip linto folded condition, means embodied in said feed means to adjust the relative strip advancement with reference to theoperative folding position of said shiftable strip guide thus to cause predetermined parts of the strip to be fed by the feed means against said strip guide thus to facilitate the folding operation and means whereby said guide shifting means causes said guide to dwell in its strip guiding position while the strip is being fed thereagainst and guided thereby into folded position.

l2. In a device of the character4 described,

in combination, feeding means to feed into inscription receiving position a record strip having successive record sheets and longitudinally aligned feed control apertures hav-i ing definite relation, respectively, with said record sheets, a record strip storage comparta ment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide mounted separately from said feeding means adjacent the path of movement of the feeding strip and adjacent the storage compartment, said strip guide being shiftably mounted for movement into position relatively to the feeding means and strip path so that the strip may be fed thereagainst by the feeding means and thereby guided and diverted into folded condition in said compartment, and operating connections for said strip guide operatively connected to said feeding means for controlling the strip guiding position of said ide, said feeding means including a strip vgrlpping feed disk adapted to grip the strip in longitudinal alignment with the feed controlling apertures so as to release feeding grip on the strip when said apertures come into alignment with the feeding strip, thereby to check strip feed during continued operation of said feeding means and of said strip guide operating connections latter relatively to said checking of the strip feed. Y

13. In a device of the character described, in combination, feeding means to feed into inscription receiving position a record strip having successive record sheets and longitudinally aligned feed control apertures having definite relation, respectively, with said record sheets, arecord strip storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, a shiftable strip guide mounted adjacent said feeding means in the strip path for mov ment into contact with the face of the strip in its path to said compartment so as to divert the strip into folded condition within said compartment, an operating lug operatively connectedto said strip guide, a cam cooperating with said lug to move said guide into strip cooperative position and operating connections between said feeding means and said cam to control the strip4 diverting position of said guide. said feeding means including a strip gripping feed disk adapted to Vgrip the strip in longitudinal alignment with the feed control apertures so as to release feeding grip on the strip when said apertures come into alignment with the feeding grip thereby to check strip feed during continued operation of said feeding means and of said strip guide operating connections thus to adjust the operating positionof the latter relatively to said checking of the strip feed.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON. 

